Clamp mounting for electrodes



R. H. WAPPLER.

CLAMP MOUNTING FOR ELECTRODES.- APPLICATION FILED FEB. 14, 1921.

Patented July 11, 1922.

llGURE A TTORA'E V innran stares PATENT canton.

REINHoLD H. WAPPLER, or YONKERS, NEW roan, sssIeNon TO werunnn nnncrmcCOMPANY, met, a CORPORATIQN on NEW roan.

omnrr MOUNTING ron ELECTRODES.

Specification of Letters Patent. I p m im J ly 111, 11922,

1 Application filed'February 14, 1921. Serial No. 444,810.

being to produce a structure carrying electrodes and having the generalform of a clamp for embracing some part of the anatomy, such as an armor a limb, the parts being so arranged that by adjusting and ap plyingthe clamp to the said part of the anatomy, the electrodes are therebybrought into engagement therewith, so as to facilitate the applicationof electric currents thereto.

More particularly stated, I seek to provide a structure of the. kindjust mentioned, so arranged that while the electrodes are held in goodcontact with-the part of the body to which the electric currents are tobe applied, the electrodes each have considerable freedom of movementand a wide range of adaptability, such, for instance, as to allow formotions of breathing, voluntary or involuntary muscular movements,twitchings and the like. My device is suitable for use with galvanic andfaradic. current-s, currents of the kindmade by shocking machines ofvarious types, and high frequency currents of a type suitable for use inthis connection.

Reference is made to the accompanying drawing forming a part of thisspecification, and in which like letters indicate like parts throughoutthe several figures. v

Figure 1 is a plan view of my device complete, one of the electrodesbeing partly by the arrows shown in section.

Figure 2 is a section on the line 2 2 of Figure 1,looking in thedirection indicated Figure 31s an end elevation of the mechanism shownin Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a plan view of my device as it appears when applied to apart of the body,

, such f0]? instance 315 311 arm.

Fig. 5 is a section showing an electrode nervous as used with my device,but having a form different from those of the electrodes shown 1nFigures 1 to 4 inclusive.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary section, show- Each arm is also provided witha leaf spring 10, made of metal and held in position by a binding post11.

Each arm carries a shank '12, and is provided with a hole 13 throughwhich the shank extends, loosely but neatly. The two shanks 12 carry aair of electrodes, 14, 15, these electrodes eing of the usual or anypreferred construction and each carrying a pad 16 which may bemoistened.

In Figure 4 is shown a persons arm 17, with the pair. of electrodes indirect contact therewith and held in position by the clamp, consistingof the slat 5 and the arms 6, 7."

The binding posts ll-are connected with a suitable source of electriccurrent, so that the current is sent through the anatomical partconsisting, in this instance, of the arm 17. g

The leaf springs 10 are always under tension while the device is inactive use. Thus the electrodes 14, 15 are pressed firmly but gentlyagainst the opposite sides of the anatomical member to be acted upon bythe electric currents. If the anatomical member in question is moved ordistorted, the electrodes tend to move accordingly, and to follow thesurfaces with which they are respectively in contact.

It will be noted that the clamp, while in active use, is quite rigid,all of the resilience and flexibility of the device being in thesprings, or at least in the springs and electrodes therewith connected.This arrangementpresents a distinct advantage, in that the respectiveelectrodes are pressed and guided directly toward each other,independently of the size of thearm 17 or other anatomical member. Thusthe electrodes may with equal facility and equal efliciency be appliedto opposite sides of the thinnest portion of the wrist, the thickestportion of the ankle, the opposite sides of the head or neck, or eventhe skin adjacent the stomach and spine. shape or thickness oftheanatomical member engaged by the electrodes, the premure of theelectrodes can always be rendered exactly diametrical to the anatomicalmemher, and the pressure exerted by the electrodes may be thesame if theelectrodes are several inches apart as if they are in close proximity toeach other.

In some instances, as indicated in Flgures 5 and 6, I mount one of theelectrodes in such manner as to give it additional free dom of movementrelatively to the arm whereby it is supported. That is to say Isometimes provide a universal joint, so arranged as to support one oftheelectrodes in such manner that the axis of the electrode maybe inclinedto dilferent: angles relatively to the supporting arm.

at 17, and is provided with a' hole through which extends a shank 18,this shank being connected with the spring 10 by a screw 19. The shank18 is provided with a slot 20, and 80 is fitted to recelve a ball 21, soas to constitute a socket therefor. The ball 21 sup ports the electrode22, which is thus mounted upon a ball and socket joint. In Figure 6 thearm 23 carries a cap 24 made of metal and resting upon this cap is a box25.

Journalled within this box is a shaft 26, havin the general form of aroller, and provi ed with a hole through which extends a shank 27,carrying an electrode 28. 40 The box 25-is further provided with a slot29, and extending through this slot is a.

screw 30, which also extends through the top of-the cap 24 and intothearm 23. A spring 31, corresponding tothe spring 10 above described, isprovided with a boss 32 which engages the box 25. By virtue of theslot'29. the box 25 has a little lay' relatively to the screw -30whereby it 1s guided.

The box 35 has alittle turning movement .50 relatively to the arm 23,upon thescrew 30,

considered as a swivel. Thus while the electrode 28 is pressed by thespring 31, the box 25, has two turmngmovements, each a upon a differentaxis, so that'the electrode I 28 is supported by a universal joint.

7 With either of. the universal joints shown respectively in Figures 5and 6, the electrode ,may be applied to a surface of the body inaid ofwhat is essentially so dependently of how such surface is situatedrelatively to the surface engaged by the oppositeelectrode. Hence byhavingqone of the'electrodes mounted as shown in Figures 5 or 6, thepair of electrodes carried 1 by the clamp can be fitted upon opposite Nomatter what may be the In Figurefi the supporting arm -1s shown I sidesof anatomical members of irregular formation, and which are nowhere nearpar allel with each other. I

The operation of my device may be scription.

The electrodes-being moistened or otherwise prepared as desired, thewooden arms, are by hand moved apart, so as to bring the electrodes inposition to be fitted against ,the diametrically ,opposite sidesorsurfaces of the anatomical member to'be treated. Next the arms are byhand moved a little toward. each other, so as to press the electrodesagainst the opposite sides of the member, as above described. -'Thisdone, current is suppliedby aid of the binding postsand electricalconnections associated .therewith,but not shown. I y

I do not limit myself to the precise mechanism shown, as variations maybe-made therefrom without departing from the spirit of my invention.

1. The combination, with. a clamp consisting of/a straight slat and apair of arms slidably mounted thereon and substantially parallel witheach other, of a pair of electrodes and a pair of springs connected withsaid electrodes and with said arms, for the double purpose ofsupportingsaid electrodes resiliently upon said arms and of supplying electriccurrents to said electrodes.

2. The combination, with a pair of arms movable toward and from eachother and means for :supporting said arms parallel with each other, ofleaf springs carried by said arms, electrodes mounted upon said leafsprings and thereby rendered resilient relatively to said arms,- andelectrodes mounted upon said leaf springs.

3. The combination, with a pair of arms readily understood from theforegoing demovable toward and-from each, other and v each arm, forthedouble purpose of 'securing the spring to' the arm and of supplyingelectric currents to the electrodes, through the spring. z I.

4. A device of the character described,

comprising-a pair of electrodes and mechanism connected with saidelectrodes for the double urpose of maintaining said' electrodesdirectly'inaxial alinement with each other and of rendering. saidelectrodes adjustable relatively to each other. a

15. device of the character described, comprising a-clamp provided witha pair of arms movable by hand toward and from each other, -each';armbeing provided with a hole, an electrode carried by each' arm andprovided -with a shank extending through the hole thereof, a leaf springmade of electrically conducting material and connected with each shank,and a binding post connected with each arm and with the spring connectedtherewith.

6. A device of the character described, comprising a clamp having armsprovided with holes and adjustable relatively to each other, said holesbeing in axial alinement with each other, a pair of electrodes eachprovided with a shank extending through one of said holes, so that saidelectrodes are face to face and in direct axial alinement with eachother at all times independently of the adjustment of said armsrelatively to each other, and means for supplying electric currents tosaid electrodes.

7. A device of the character described, comprising a clamp having armsadjustable toward and from each other, said arms having holes soarranged as to be at all times substantially in alinement. with eachother, a pair of electrodes each provided with a shank extending throughone of said holes, a leaf spring secured to each shank for the purposeof supplying electric currents to the electrode associated with suchshank and of supporting such electrode. and a binding post connectedwith each leaf spring.

8. In a device of the character described, the combination of a slat. apair of arms mounted upon said slat and so arranged as to be movabletoward and from each other and yet maintained at all times parallel witheach other. said arms being provided with holes. a shank extendingloosely through each of said holes. an electrode mounted upon eachshank. the electrodes facing each other and being maintained at alltimes in axialalinement with each other in consequence of the shanksextending through said holes. and means for supplying electric currentsto said electrodes.

9. In a device of the character described, comprising a pair of arms.means for holding them substantially parallel with each other whileallowing them to be adjusted toward and from each other. a pair ofelectrodes facing each other and one carried by each arm. and means forrendering said electrodes resilient relatively to said arms.

REINHOLD H. WAPPLER.

